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A handful of awards were presented at the the 2024 Utah Asphalt Conference, held from February 27 to 28, 2024 at the Mountain America Expo Center.
2023 Quality In Preservation Award, Seep Ridge Road Impact Mitigation Project
- UINTAH Special Service District 1
UINTAH Special Service District 1, supported by a dedicated Project Team, took on the transformative Seep Ridge Road project. This 52-mi.-long corridor extends south into the Book Cliffs, serving as a crucial conduit for accessing major oil and gas extraction operations in Uintah County. Recognized as a cornerstone of infrastructure vital for both energy and recreation in the region, Seep Ridge Road underwent a substantial upgrade, transitioning from a dirt road to a fully paved highway during the mid-2000s.
The Seep Ridge Road Impact Mitigation Project tackled various challenges, including the repair of settled roadway areas over large culverts and addressing other pavement distress issues. This initiative involved applying a meticulous crack seal along the entire length of the project, followed by sealing the entire surface with micro-surfacing and the final touch of paint striping. The project’s remarkable quantities encompassed 1,474,000 sq. yds. of micro-surfacing and 9,775 gal. of pavement marking paint, marking a testament to the scale and precision of the undertaken improvements.
2023 Pavement Preservation Project of Year Award, I-70; MP 154.8 to Green River Structure
- Intermountain Slurry Seal Inc.
The UDOT I-70 project addressed diverse road issues, including uneven surfaces and rutted sections. Aimed at enhancing road quality and safety, the project focused on asphalt maintenance, particularly in the outside lanes where irregularities were more pronounced. The primary goal was to eliminate ruts and improve the Mean Roughness Index (MRI).
To achieve this, the project utilized Road Smoothing (grinding) for the outside lanes, Micro-surfacing Scratch Course for rut filling and comprehensive Micro-surfacing across the entire road width. New delineators, signs and pavement markings were also installed.
2023 Innovative Project of Year Award, HiMod Projects
- Utah Department of Transportation, Staker Parson Materials & Construction, Geneva Rock Products and Granite Inc.
The implementation of an innovative High Performance Highly Modified Asphalt Pavement (HiMod) played a crucial role in the success and preservation of several projects in Utah. The HiMod Mix, featured PG 76-34 binder, aimed at achieving a density target of 96 percent of Gmm, 1 to 1.5 percent air voids at 50 gyrations, 6.0 percent minimum binder content and allowing for 15 percent reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP).
Staker Parson Materials & Construction made history on June 3, 2021, by being the first to use this innovative mixture at their plant and later on the I-80 East Bound Port of Entry Ramp. This pioneering project demonstrated the mix’s ability to endure transportation through the shuttle buggy after a long haul and be placed in a single 6-inch thick lift, achieving densities of 96 percent or better. The high binder content and low void mix compacted effectively, resulting in a durable, rut-resistant pavement.
Geneva Rock Products further validated the HiMod Mix during the SR 196 project from Mile Post 24 to I-80 in May 2023. This 13-mi. project marked the first full-scale application of the mixture, showcasing its effectiveness in constructing a thin overlay pavement.
Lastly, Granite Construction introduced the HiMod Mix to structural bridge decks during the I-84/80 Echo Junction Structure Bridge Deck and I-15 Bridge Decks in Region One.
2023 Quality in Construction Award, West Davis Highway
- Staker Parson Materials & Construction
The West Davis Corridor project, spanning from Centerville to Syracuse in Davis County, was spearheaded by Staker Parson Materials & Construction. The project aimed to address traffic congestion issues by constructing a new 16-mi., four-lane divided highway. The project, totaling $550 million, included the construction of a freeway-to-freeway interchange connecting the West Davis Corridor to I-15 & SR 67 (Legacy Parkway), along with five grade-separated interchanges and a 10-mi. trail system.
Despite challenges, the project managed to achieve completion six months ahead of schedule. Noteworthy was the innovative approach to pavement design, which incorporated high resilient modulus UTBC to reduce pavement thickness, optimizing materials and cost.
2023 Small Project of Year Award, South Jordan Mill, Overlay
Black Forest Paving undertook an asphalt mill and overlay project on various collector and residential streets, including the overlay of parking lots at the historic Gale Center and South Jordan City Cemetery roads. A comprehensive traffic control plan was devised and implemented for all roadways. Subcontractors played a crucial role in lowering/raising utility collars and executing roadway striping for each road involved in the project, which spanned over 30 roads across the city.
The successful completion of the project involved placing 18,514 tons of asphalt. The achievement can be attributed to the seamless coordination and hard work of diverse individuals, including those in field operations, experienced personnel, and those involved in the continuous delivery of mix, paving and quality control. This collaborative effort ensured the project’s success and met the highest standards of quality.
2025 Large Project of Year Award, U.S. 89 Farmington to I-84
- Oak Hills Constructors Joint Venture (Granite and RLW )
Oak Hills Constructors Joint Venture (Granite and RLW) successfully enhanced connectivity between U.S. 89 and Main Street, S.R. 193 and Interstate 84. The project involved the construction of new frontage roads in specific sections to enhance access to existing frontage roads and local streets. These enhancements significantly improved local traffic access to the new interchanges, facilitating efficient cross-traffic.
The frontage roads were designed with shared shoulders that also serve as a parallel bicycle route. Throughout the project, 272,000 tons of asphalt were meticulously placed, resulting in the development of over 36 lane mi. of roadway. The collective effort of the team amounted to over one million man-hours, showcasing the commitment to project success.
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